Updated September 21, 2016 18:03:04

Photo: Police are conducting a search of the area. (Supplied: Emily Laurence)

A man has been airlifted to hospital after he was shot in what is believed to be a targeted attack near Wollongong.

NSW Police said emergency services were called to Mountain Avenue in Woonona about 2:30pm after the 29-year-old rang triple-0 to report he had been shot.

Acting Superintendent Mark Wall said it was believed the man was shot at another location before getting into his car and driving to Mountain Avenue.

"Police responded to a call of a man that had been shot in the face north of Wollongong," he said.

"At this stage the investigation is only in its infancy, we haven't made any arrests.

"However, I have a team of detectives that are working on locating an offender."

The man suffered severe facial injuries and has been airlifted to St George Hospital in Sydney, where he is expected to undergo surgery.

"The male has been taken by helicopter to a hospital in Sydney where he has extensive injuries to his face and at this stage [they] don't appear to be life-threatening," Acting Superintendent Wall said.

"We're currently working to determine what the links are between the offender and the victim but as I said before it does appear to be a targeted incident."

Locals are being advised to stay away from nearby Stephen Drive and Joanne Street in Woonona.

Topics: crime, law-crime-and-justice, woonona-2517, wollongong-2500, nsw

First posted September 21, 2016 16:46:43